Stephen Rider, star of It: Welcome to Derry, revealed that the Hollywood strikes turned into a surprising advantage for him. Although the shutdown initially created fear across the industry, the actor believes the pause allowed something meaningful to grow. He explained that the break gave him valuable time to deepen his bond with young co-star Amanda Christine.
Before the strikes, Rider had already been offered the role of Amanda’s father in the upcoming series. However, the production halt created space for them to connect more naturally, strengthening their on-screen chemistry. Moreover, during the downtime, they frequently spoke through FaceTime and began forming a relationship that felt genuinely family-like.
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Additionally, Rider shared on The Official It: Welcome to Derry podcast that he and Amanda still stay in regular contact. He called their connection a “blessing” and said the strike allowed the cast to reflect on their relationships and grow closer. Their conversations helped them build trust that would translate powerfully once filming resumed.
Furthermore, the actor spoke warmly about Amanda, saying she felt like a young niece navigating life while trusting him enough to share her thoughts. He emphasised that their bond became intimate in a sincere and protective way, something he values deeply. According to him, this emotional connection made their father-daughter dynamic feel completely authentic.
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Rider admitted that they had filmed only a small portion before the shutdown; however, returning to set felt different because their relationship had already matured. As he put it, the bond they built off-camera made their scenes richer and “transcended” the limits of their characters. Ultimately, he believes that the unexpected pause strengthened the heart of the story they are bringing to screen.